Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
VIII. Wedded LoveSong: “The bride she is winsome and bonny”
Joanna Baillie (1762–1851)T
Her hair it is snooded sae sleek,
And faithfu’ and kind is her Johnny,
Yet fast fa’ the tears on her cheek.
New pearlins are cause of her sorrow,
New pearlins and plenishing too;
The bride that has a’ to borrow
Has e’en right mickle ado.
Woo’d and married and a’!
Woo’d and married and a’!
Is na’ she very weel aff
To be woo’d and married at a’?
“The lassie is glaikit wi’ pride;
In my pouch I had never a plack
On the day when I was a bride.
E’en tak to your wheel and be clever,
And draw out your thread in the sun;
The gear that is gifted it never
Will last like the gear that is won.
Woo’ed and married and a’!
Wi’ havins and tocher sae sma’!
I think ye are very weel aff
To be woo’d and married at a’.”
“She ’s less o’ a bride than a bairn,
She ’s ta’en like a cout frae the heather,
Wi’ sense and discretion to learn.
Half husband, I trow, and half daddy,
As humour inconstantly leans,
The chiel maun be patient and steady
That yokes wi’ a mate in her teens.
A kerchief sae douce and sae neat
O’er her locks that the wind used to blaw!
I ’m baith like to laugh and to greet
When I think of her married at a’!”
Weel waled were his wordies, I ween,
“I ’m rich, though my coffer be toom,
Wi’ the blinks o’ your bonny blue een.
I ’m prouder o’ thee by my side
Though thy ruffles or ribbons be few,
Than if Kate o’ the Croft were my bride
Wi’ purfles and pearlins enow.
Dear and dearest of ony!
Ye ’re woo’d and buikit and a’!
And do ye think scorn o’ your Johnny,
And grieve to be married at a’?”
And she looked sae bashfully down;
The pride o’ her heart was beguiled,
And she played wi’ the sleeves o’ her gown.
She twirled the tag o’ her lace,
And she nipped her boddice sae blue,
Syne blinket sae sweet in his face,
And aff like a maukin she flew.
Woo’d and married and a’!
Wi’ Johnny to roose her and a’!
She thinks hersel very weel aff
To be woo’d and married at a’!